My partner and I travelled with one vehicle, HZJ78, and I'll be posting some more pics soon, and perhaps a new thread for South Sudan overland expedition also last year. We had no issues except for the oil problem in the Central African Republic mentioned earlier in the thread. I am a firm believer in the preventative maintenance for things which would be a major problem to deal with in Africa (surprisingly few things in these Toyotas). Love the vehicle well, rather than just coexist with it, and there will be far fewer problems when you need the least...A couple more questions that I am sure other people are also curious of:
-Did you travel by yourself or with a partner/friend? One vehicle?
-I think you said your vehicle is a Toyota HZJ78? What year/model? any picture of it? Did you have any issue?
-How long was the trip total?
-How was it during Covid? Any additional issue? I read this interesting article this morning about Malawi:
Africa may have reached the pandemic's holy grail
New findings from Malawi suggest the country has entered something akin to the endemic stage of the pandemic — along with many other African nations.www.wlrn.org
Plenty of Hilux trucks in Chad, its a very practical and well suited vehicle for the terrain there, and easy enough to repair. It may feel or seem a bit less rugged than a Troopy but those who live there are, of course, smart and practical, they know what works. I would be absolutely comfortable with such a vehicle in West Africa and certainly in Chad and the C.A.R. If I were focusing more on Southern or East Africa, I may prefer a Landrover of some sort, but a Hilux is fine too. LR or Toyota, you are fine in Africa. A small camper is a nice concept for a Hilux and I've seen a couple around in Southern Africa, although is not a combo I have had myself. I would just be careful to ensure it does not become too heavy and overladen at the back, I saw a few with huge water capacity too far to the rear which I didn't like too much. For the distances needed at least to explore northern Chad with a large degree of autonomy, I would be very careful about adding a camper unit. But as this is really pushing range to the extreme, which really isn't necessary anywhere else in Africa, it is probably a good compromise between practicality and comfort.
Plenty of Hilux trucks in Chad, its a very practical and well suited vehicle for the terrain there, and easy enough to repair. It may feel or seem a bit less rugged than a Troopy but those who live there are, of course, smart and practical, they know what works. I would be absolutely comfortable with such a vehicle in West Africa and certainly in Chad and the C.A.R. If I were focusing more on Southern or East Africa, I may prefer a Landrover of some sort, but a Hilux is fine too. LR or Toyota, you are fine in Africa. A small camper is a nice concept for a Hilux and I've seen a couple around in Southern Africa, although is not a combo I have had myself. I would just be careful to ensure it does not become too heavy and overladen at the back, I saw a few with huge water capacity too far to the rear which I didn't like too much. For the distances needed at least to explore northern Chad with a large degree of autonomy, I would be very careful about adding a camper unit. But as this is really pushing range to the extreme, which really isn't necessary anywhere else in Africa, it is probably a good compromise between practicality and comfort.
I'm looking at some alternative ideas now with the lifting roof tent, just as in your profile pic
I've never had anything from Alu Cab but plenty of South Africans I have met have only spoke very highly of their products (the camper modules included). It would be a good set up for almost all places you would go in Africa....Thanks - after years of service in Australia and Africa, and after eventually driving it up to Norway, ours ended up in Greg's collection:
It was perfect for Africa...until it wasn't. Way too slow for Europe or the mountains in Rwanda, and it was really starting to show its age.
I am thinking of a light cabover camper for the Hilux, like the Alu-Cab ones.
View attachment 704387
This would have been really helpful! As I am planning another trip there (already!), this is especially interesting.
